Sexual harassment during clinical rotations and knowledge of protective legislation among female medical trainees in Lima, Peru: a cross-sectional study

Background Sexual harassment in healthcare training settings is a form of gender-based violence and a barrier to safe medical education. Evidence from Peruvian medical trainees and on the role of legal literacy remains limited. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of sexual harassment and knowledge of protective legislation in female medical trainees during clinical rotations in Lima, Peru. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in 2022–2023 among female medical students and physicians completing clinical rotations in two public hospitals and one private teaching clinic in Lima. An anonymous online questionnaire assessed 11 forms of sexual harassment and 9 items on knowledge of Peruvian Law No. 27,942 and related university regulations. Sexual harassment was defined as at least one affirmative response. Bivariate associations were examined using chi-square or Fisher exact tests. Results Ninety-nine women were included and 88.9% were medical students. Overall, 79.8% reported at least one form of sexual harassment. The most frequent behaviours were insistent or lascivious gazes (70.4%), sexual jokes or offensive remarks (59.8%), and unwanted physical contact (39.2%). Knowledge was highest for the legal definition of sexual harassment (87.9%) and lowest for the formal complaint procedure within universities (51.5%). Women reporting harassment were less likely to identify the right to compensation, institutional prevention duties, the university complaint procedure, and graduated sanctions. Conclusions Sexual harassment was frequently reported, while knowledge of protective legislation was incomplete. These findings support strengthening legal literacy, confidential reporting pathways, prevention, and institutional accountability.